A Caribbean island nation in the Lesser Antilles or Windward Islands formerly a colony of France and Great Britain.
Genealogical records are kept at the parish level on Grenada. The capital is St. George’s, in St. George Parish.

Genealogical Finding Aids for Grenada can be found at Family Search.

HISTORICAL TIMELINE:

Before 1498: Grenada was inhabited by the indigenous peoples from South America

1498: Christopher Columbus sighted Grenada on his third voyage to the Americas.

1650: St. George’s was founded by the French in 1650 when “La Grenade” (Grenada) was colonized by Jacques Duel du Parquet, the governor of Martinique. French settlement of the island continued through the next century.

1763: Grenada was ceded to the British under the Treaty of Paris on 10 Feb 1763. British rule continued until 1974, excepting a brief takeover by the French bet. 1779 and 1783.

1833-34: Parliament passed the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 which provided for the gradual abolition of slavery in most parts of the British Empire. The law was approved by the crown and took effect in 1834.

1877: What would now be categorized as a Category 1 hurricane hit Grenada with 80 mph winds from the east on September 22nd.

1955: September 22nd was again the day of a storm. Hurricane Jane hit with winds of 115 mph doing heavy damage. {Grenada’s History with Tropical Systems}

1958 to 1962: Grenada was part of the Federation of the West Indies, a short-lived federation of British West Indian colonies.

1967: Full autonomy of Grenada’s internal affairs was granted on 3 March 1967.

1974: Independence was granted on 7 Feb 1974 under the leadership of Eric Gairy, who became Grenada’s first prime minister. The country became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.

1979: In March of 1979, the Marxist-Leninist New Jewel Movement overthrew Gairy’s government in a bloodless coup establishing the People’s Revolutionary Government, with Maurice Bishop as its prime minister.

1983: Bishop was later arrested and executed by members of the People’s Revolutionary Army, prompting a U.S.-led invasion in October of 1983. The island has returned to a parliamentary representative democracy and remains politically stable.

2004: Hurricane Ivan, a category 5 storm, struck Grenada on September 8th causing widespread destruction.

2005: Hurricane Emily hit with 90 mph winds in areas already hit hard by Ivan less than a year before.

2022: Queen Elizabeth II died at aged 96 after reigning as monarch of the United Kingdom and its Commonwealth Realms for 70 years. She was succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III, whose titles now include King of Grenada.

{Timeline Source: Wikipedia}

GUTHRIES in GRENADA

JOHN GUTHRIE aka JOHN GUTHRIE of CARBETH
Parents: Robert Guthrie and Elizabeth Smith (m.3 Nov 1759 Strathblane, Stirling, Scotland)
Birth: 18 Feb 1768 at Baldernock, Stirling, Scotland
Siblings: Elisabeth (1760), Jean (1762), David (1764), Elizabeth (1766), James (1770)
Spouse: None Known
Children: None
Arrival in Grenada: Bef.1792
Occupation: West India Merchant – Associated with Leitch & Smith and Guthrie & Ryburn
Return to Scotland: Abt. 1800-1801
Death: 1834 at Mount Edgecumbe Cottage, Devonshire, England

John Guthrie was a West India Merchant associated with his uncle, Archibald Smith’s firm of Leitch & Smith, which imported sugar and provided credit to plantation owners in Grenada and Jamaica. Guthrie was the managed of the firm’s branch on Grenada during the late 18th century. He established Guthrie & Ryburn after 1792, and it became the largest firm on the island. “By 1799 Guthrie was a respected member of the plantocracy elite on the island, and was appointed one of the ‘Guardians of Slaves’ in the capital St George’s.” After spending about a decade building his fortune in Grenada, John Guthrie returned to Scotland. On 29 May 1801, the Grenada Chronicle posted “John Guthrie resigned with rank of Major from the Militia of this Government.” It must be that about that time, he returned home to Scotland for about 1800, he purchased the 286 acre estate of Carbeth, in Strathblane, Stirling, Scotland. During his time in Glasgow he was appointed a city magistrate, and in 1814 was appointed Dean of Guild of the Merchants House, which was influential in local politics. Having no children of his own, Guthrie’s estate went to a nephew, William Smith. Smith’s son inherited afterward and took on the estate name: John Guthrie Smith.

Not long before his death, on 15 April 1830, from a deed of 14 Jun 1830, “John Guthrie, John Ryburn, James Smith, Andrew Ranken, James Smith Jnr., Archibald Smith surviving partners of the house of trade some time since carried on in the city of Glasgow under the firm of Leitch and Smith of the one part” sell to “Robert Kirk and John Todd merchants of St. George’s” land and buildings in the part of the town called the Carenage (the harbourfront).” George Macewan signed for the partners because all of them were in Glasgow.

READING:
The Old Country Houses of the Glasgow Sugar Aristocracy: Carbeth Guthrie
Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery: John Guthrie (Partnership Role) in Guthrie & Ryburn
Carbeth: slavery in the landscape
Mullen, Stephen (2022). The Glasgow Sugar Aristocracy – Scotland and Caribbean Slavery, 1776-1838, Royal Historical Society Institute of Historical Research, University of London Press, London.

PETER GUTHRIE
Parents: Unidentified
Birth: Abt. 1770
Arrival in Grenada: Abt. 1789
Spouse/Partner: Anne Thoy
Children: Agnes (1811), David Robert (1812), Peter (1814), Anne (1817), James (1818), John (1821), Anne (1825), Ellen Jane (1826)
Children: George Edward (1828) by Leah Gibbs
Children: Susan (1836) by Mary Ann Gilling
Occupation: West India Merchant
Death: After 1843 in Grenada

Peter Guthrie was reportedly a native of Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland who arrived in Grenada about 1789. He was likely a young adult at the time. His early years were likely spent associated on the shipping side of the mercantile business. By January of 1812, he was listed as the master of the 53-ton sailing vessel ‘Two Brothers‘ (build in Argyle, Nova Scotia about 1800), which was carrying a cargo of 20,000 wooden staves. He became part owner of the same ship by that December. The St. George’s Chronicle and Grenada Gazette posted notice that the firm of Laurie and Guthrie had been terminated as of 6 Jan 1815. In addition to the mercantile business, Guthrie was Lieutenant and an Adjutant of the St. George’s Militia Regiment. He was assigned duties as a Road Commissioner for street repair in his area, and submitted proposals to the House Assembly regarding taxation of visiting merchants and payment of a local rector. He also sat on the Joint Committee of Public Accounts.

Guthrie’s primary relationship was with Anne Thoy by whom he had eight of his ten children. She continued to be documented as “Miss Anne Thoy” making it likely that their marital status was unofficial or recognized as common law. Children by two other women, Leah Gibbs, and Mary Ann Gilling, are documented.

Local advertisements for goods brought by Guthrie’s shipping business to the island included beef, butter, champagne, mules, saddle horses, muslin, printed cottons, handkerchiefs, dresses, and paint. He posted notices to purchase cattle and sheep for use by the crown’s troops, as well as oxen and bulls. He was also noted to be the Auctioneer General in 1823, where he was personally offering for sale a “negro woman slave and cattle.”

Slavery was also a commodity in the British Colonial Caribbean. The Slave Registers for Grenada include ownership by Peter Guthrie and Anne Thoy, listed as individual proprietors. Slaves are listed by name, estimated age, color, country of birth/ethnicity (ie Creole, African), conspicuous marks. Some lists included their mother’s name, how the slave was acquired, or notations about their death.

Peter Guthrie purchased the Nettle Point Estate in St Mark Parish, Grenada in 1829. In 1833 the British Parliament passed the Slavery Abolition Act, which abolished slavery in most British Colonies, freeing more than 800,000 enslaved Africans in the Caribbean and South Africa, as well as a small number in Canada. It received Royal assent on 28 Aug 1833, and took effect on 1 August 1834. Slave owners like Guthrie took a financial hit, which sparked law suits.
“The estimated value of the enslaved persons in the counterclaim is given as £2260 for 31 enslaved persons, including £100 per head for field labourers, £120 for Head People, £30 for children under 6 and £25 for aged, diseased or otherwise non-effective.” {Legacies} Guthrie lost his claim, which was awarded to London merchants Bartley and Milne who were the original mortgagees.

1820: Annual Return of the Increase and Decrease of the Slaves belonging to or in the lawful possession on Peter Guthrie, proprietor in the Town of St George.
Increase by Birth: None
Increase Otherwise: 2
Tom, 20, black, Creole, marks: none, purchased from Messrs. Leitch & Smith
Jack, 25, black, Creole, marks: none, purchased at a Marshall sale
Decrease: None

1821 Slave Registers: Peter Guthrie of the Town of St George’s
Name, Supposed Age, Colour, Country, Conspicuous Marks
Tom, 21 years, black, Grenada, no marks
Jack, 26 years, black, St Vincents, no marks
Total: Two Males on 31st Dec 1821

1825: A list of Slaves belonging to Peter Guthrie in the Town of Saint George.
Males: Tom, 25 years, black, Grenada, none
Females: None
1825: A list of Slaves belonging to Benjamin Walker in the possession of Peter Guthrie as his agent in the town of St George
Males: John, 20 years, black, Grenada, none
Females: None

1827: Annual Return of the Increase and Decrease of Slaves belonging to Peter Guthrie of the Town of St George for 1827
Increase:
John, 42, black, St Bartholomew, purchased from Thos. Bigg, none (Total Increase: 1)
Decrease:
John, 42, black, St Bartholomew, Fever, none, COD certified by George Marcuwan (Total Decrease: 1)

1829: Annual Return of the Increase and Decrease of Slaves belonging to Peter Guthrie and attached to and worked upon Nettle Point Estate in the Parish of Saint Mark for the year 1829.
9 Males and 12 Females – 31 Dec 1829 – P Guthrie
Increase
William, 52 years, black, African, small scar right side upper lip, and one below eye brow
Tom, 50, black, African, country marks on cheeks and lost the first joint of little finger
Peter, 55, black, African, country marks on his brow
Adam, 21, black, Creole, a small mark on his forehead
Edward, 4 yrs 11 mos, black Creole, none
Hector, 4 years 2 mos, black Creole, none
Robert, 1 yr 11 mos, black Creole, none
Peggy, 48 yrs, black, African, country marks on her cheeks
Lucy, 48 years, black African, blind country marks on her cheeks
Ritta, 52, black African, country marks on her forehead & __
Abinia, 42, black African, small scars on her cheeks
Barb, 48, black, African, country marks on her cheeks & forehead
Betty, 25, black, Creole, none
Catherine, 25, black, Creole, none
Mary, 12-1/2, black, Creole, none
Louise,1 yr 4mos, black Creole, none
Fanny, 1 yr 4 mos, black, Creole, none
Nelson 47 years, black African, purchased from James McWilliam, country marks on left arm (faint)
Jean, 23 yrs, black, Grenada, purchased from Charles Horton, none
Mathilda, 23 yrs, black, Grenada, purchased from Joseph Coyins, none
Justine, 17 yrs, black, Grenada, purchased from J R Antonoly and Judith Antonoly
Increase by Birth: 0; Increase Otherwise: 9 M / 12 F
Decrease: None

1830: Slave Registers: Annual Return of the Increase and Decrease of Slaves belonging to Peter Guthrie of the Town of St George’s and attached to and worked upon Nettle Point Estate in the Parish of Saint Mark for the year 1830.
14 Males, & 16 Females – 31 Dec 1830 – P Guthrie
Increase:
Dominique, 47, black, Dominica, purchased from Ann Thoy
Paul Gami, 20, black, Creole, purchased from Ann Thoy
Alexander, 42, black, Creole, purchased from Ann Thoy
Bungy, 54, black, African, purchased from Ann Thoy, African marks on his shoulders
Quasheba, 58, black African, purchased from Ann Thoy, a scar on each cheek
Joseph, 54, black, African, purchased from Clotilde Bartte
Jenny, 48, black, African, purchased from Robert McBurnie
Betsey, 17, black, Creole, purchased from James Beare & Elizabeth Ann Beare
Jan, 10 mos, black, Creole, birth, mother: Matilda
Increase by birth: 1; Increase otherwise 5 / 3; Total Increase: 5 Males / 4 Females
Decrease: None

1833: Annual Return of the Increase and Decrease belonging to Peter Guthrie & Attached to and worked upon Nettle Point in the Parish of Saint Mark for the year 1833
12 Males and 18 Females 31 Dec 1833 – Peter Guthrie
Increase: Jane, 11 months, black, Grenada, Birth, Marks: None, Mother: Justine (Total Increase: 1 by birth)
Decrease: Joseph, 57, black, Africa, Dropsy, Marks: None, (James F Romney, surgeon) (Total Decrease: 1 by death)

1832: Annual Return of the Increase and Decrease of Slaves belonging to Peter Guthrie and Attached to and worked upon the Nettle Point Estate in the Parish of St Mark in the Year 1832
13 Males and 17 females
Increase: None
Decrease: None

1834: A List of Slaves belonging to Peter Guthrie attached to & worked upon Nettle Point Estate in the Parish of St. Mark 31 July 1834.
Name, Supposed Age, Colour, Country, Conspicuous Marks, Remarks
Males
Tom 55 years, black, Africa, Country marks, PA
Peter, 60 years, black, Africa, Country marks, PA
Adam, 26 years, black, Creole, mark on forehead, PA
Edward, 9-1/2 years, black, Creole, none, PA
Hector, 9 years, black, Creole, none, PA
Robert, 6-1/2, black, Creole, none, PA
Nelson, 52years, black, Africa, country marks, PA
Jean, 28 years, black, Creole, none, PA
Dominique, 51 years, black, Dominican, none, PA
Paul Jamie, 24 years, black, Creole, none, PA
*Alexander, 46 years, black Creole, none, PA
Bungy, 58 years, black, Africa, marks on shoulders, PA
Decrease: * Alexander claims freedom under the 3rd Clause of the Abolition Act
Females
Peggy, 53 years, black, Africa, country marks, PA
Lucy, 53 years, black, Africa, Bl__Country marks, PA
Ritta, 57 years, black, Africa, Country marks, PA
Abinna, 47, black, Africa, scars on cheeks, PA
Bab, 53, black, Africa, country marks, PA
Betty, 30, black, Creole, none, PA
Catherine, 30, black, Creole, none, PA
Mary, 17, black, Creole, none, PA
Louisa, 12, black, Creole, none, PA
Fanny, 6, black, Creole, none, PA
Matilda, 28, black Creole, none, PA
Justine, 22, black, Creole, none, PA
Quasheba, 62, black, Africa, scar on cheek, PA
Jenny, 52, black, Africa, none, PA
Batsey, 21, black, Creole, none, PA
Jan, 4-1/2, black, Creole, none, PA
Helen, 3, black, Creole, none, PA
Jane, 1-1/2, black, Creole, none, PA
Pauline, 10 days, black, Creole, none, PA
Increase Since 31 Dec 1833: Pauline, black, Creole, none, Born of Catherine
Total: 12 Males & Nineteen Females – 31 July 1834 – P. Guthrie

Both Peter Guthrie and his eldest son, David Robert Guthrie were freemasons. They were at the Nov 10 meeting in 1843 of the Caledonia Lodge No. 324. Another lodge member at the meeting was John Guthrie. It is unknown if there was any relationship between Peter Guthrie and John Guthrie.

There is a Civil Death Registration record for an Ann Guthrie, 84, who died 26 Nov 1870 (est. birth year 1786) who might be a candidate to be Ann Thoy.

During the Spring of 1899, Messrs. Thomas Adams & Co., Ltd, advertised in the Paisley & Renfrewshire Gazette inquiring after “Information Wanted as to the Names of Parents of PETER GUTHRIE, a Native of Paisley, Scotland, who Emigrated to the Island of Grenada, West Indies, about the year 1789; also, any other Information. The above may be sent to Messrs. Thomas Adams & Co., Ltd, 16 Old Change, London, E.C.” Rather than lawyers placing a notice, this is a company of fabric dyers and lace manufacturers. Why would they be seeking the names of Peter’s parents more than fifty years after his death?

READING:
History of Freemasonry in Grenada
The Freemason’s Quarterly Review, June 27, 1838: Page 149 (Peter Guthrie entry)
The Freemason’s Quarterly Review, Dec. 31, 1840: page 126 (Peter Guthrie entry)
The Freemason’s Quarterly Review, 1843 (Peter Guthrie entry)
The Freemason’s Monthly Magazine Vol II 1843 (Peter Guthrie entry)
Centre for the Study of Legacies of British Slavery (Peter Guthrie, claimant)
Centre for the Study of Legacies of British Slavery (Nettle Point +Map)
Papers and Returns Relating to the Slave Population (Manumission of slave Eve, 44, by Ann Thoy, 1821)

ROBERT GUTHRIE
Parents: Unidentified, possibly Peter Guthrie and Anne Thoy
Birth: Abt. 1823, reportedly in Grenada
Spouse: Elcey Anne Hayling (daughter of Ambrose & Cinderella (Comissiong) Hayling)
Married on 22 June 1852 at The Anglican Church, St. George’s, Grenada
Children: Henrietta Robertina, Anton Ambrose Hayling, Robert James, Francis McKenzie, Leopold Albert
Occupation: Colonial Revenue Officer
Death: 23 Jun 1871 at sea on board the schooner “Governor Leverock”

Online trees report Robert Guthrie’s birth location as Grenada. One lists his parents as Peter Guthrie and Anne Thoy. The timing would fit in with other children fathered by Peter Guthrie. Proof?

“D. at sea, 23 June [1871], on board schooner Governor Leverock, bound for Puerto Rico, Robert Guthrie, Esq., Senior Revenue Officer, aged 48 years. he was for several years in the service of the Customs and being in ill health, obtained 6 weeks leave of absence for a trip, in the hope that change of air and scene might prove beneficial, unfortunately, he grew worse and died of the malady with which he had been afflicted 20 days after leaving the island. Leaves a disconsolate widow and 5 young children.”